Medicare Supplemental Insurance Quotes - Medicare Supplements Made Easy

Enrolling into Medicare

This year, more Americans will turn age 65 and become eligible for the federal Medicare program than ever before. In fact, close to three million seniors will be new to Medicare in 2011. For those newcomers, I have one important recommendation that you should seriously consider: do not wait until the last minute to start planning your Medicare enrollment and deciding which Medicare Supplement plan will suit your needs best.

Relax. You will not be stuck in the same Medicare plan forever. Each year during the annual election period, you have the ability to change Medicare Advantage coverage and Part D prescription drug coverage. On the other hand, Medicare supplement plans do not have an enrollment period and can be changed at any point throughout the course of the year.  Consumers must take their time and do some research before they turn 65 in order to make the decision-making process a little easier.

The first step is to learn the Medicare basics. Attempting to comprehend Medicare can be extremely confusing to anyone. Medicare is a different type of health insurance plan than most people are familiar with, so before you get overwhelmed with sales pitches and unsolicited advice, try to get an understanding of the Medicare fundamentals.

Essentially, you have two coverage options to protect yourself against the rising cost of healthcare: Original Medicare (Part A and Part B )or a private insurance companies Medicare Advantage Plan. If you go with Original Medicare, you will need a separate Part D prescription plan and a Medicare Supplement plan to fill in the gaps that Original Medicare doesn’t cover. Medicare Advantage plans usually include vision, dental and prescription drug coverage, however, they will usually require you to use a network list of doctors and have various copays and deductibles.  With all Medicare Supplement plans, you can go to absolutely any doctor or hospital and with Medicare Supplement plan F, there are absolutely no out of pocket expenses.

The biggest difference between Medicare Supplement plans and Medicare Advantage plans is predictability. Medicare supplement plans are guaranteed renewable for life. This means that no matter what, even if the insurance company were to stop selling the plan that you purchased, you can keep that policy and are entitled to all the benefits under your original contract.

Medicare Advantage plans, on the other hand, are only guaranteed renewable for one year. This means that at the end of each year, the insurance companies have the ability to change your benefits. They can change what they cover, the copay amounts, the premium, the doctors and hospitals that accept the plan, etc. When you first turn 65 is one of the only times in your life when you have a guaranteed right to purchase a Medicare Supplement policy. If you chose a Medicare advantage plan now and are unhappy with the changes in the future, you may not be able to qualify for a Medicare Supplement policy.

Make the decision that will suit you needs best in the future not just this year. Medicare Supplements Made Easy can help you find the best rates on Medicare Supplement plans in your area. Call or click today to get Medicare supplement prices in your area.

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